The first is the kind in which you want to look away because it disturbs you and makes you uncomfortable. The second is the kind in which you know it's going to get flat-out ugly, and yet you can't look away because you want to see how it will end up.
Wicked Games by Sean Olin is of the latter.
Looking at the cover, you'd think this book comprises of steamy romance and erotica galore, of naked dudes and dudettes getting their hotness on, but don't be fooled. This book is about a girl who intentionally doesn't take her medication, gets all crazy about the simplest of things, and then sets out for the most extreme of revenges when she finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her. It is utterly pointless, with no values to impart or any messages to send across to its readers - it's just full of events after events that become disastrous with each passing page.
And yet, I couldn't stop reading.
Lilah and Carter had the most perfect relationship. But it all changed when one day Lilah lost in a swimming competition, and she couldn't let go of her defeat, to the point that it made her irrationally behave at the slightest of triggers. Carter, however, was tired of her behavior, of having to be worried of possible breakdowns. That's why when he met carefree, laid-back, and beautiful Jules, who was everything Lilah wasn't, he couldn't help but be attracted to her. He was so smitten, that it ended up with them having sex. What he just didn't expect were the steps Lilah were willing to make to ensure her place in Carter's heart once she found out his secret affair.
This book is quite difficult to review.For one, I was certainly entertained. As disturbing as this may sound, it was somewhat fascinating to watch people dig their graves even further, knowing full-well the consequences of their actions. Imagine it this way: you're driving, and you see people gathering in one area. Two cars, from opposite directions, collided. In your mind, you know very well that there have been casualties, but somehow you can't help but slow down your car and crane your neck in order to take a better look. That's how it felt.
But on the other hand, it was an annoying read as well. Believe me when I say this book was utterly pointless. There were absolutely no likeable characters. Not the crazy girlfriend, not the cheating boyfriend, and also not the other girl who stole Carter's heart. They all had a role to play in this big freaking mess, and seeing them trying to scramble and justify their actions was migraine-inducing.
Carter, the boyfriend, was a douchebag to the highest level. Like, dude, I get that you're fed up with Lilah and her episodes. I get what you're feeling. You're tired of having to constantly take care of her, to be careful of the things you say, to endure her depression, but that doesn't justify and give you the right to have sex with another girl behind her back. It was so frustrating to see him feel guilty one second, and then going to see the other girl next. Break up with her first, and then do whatever the hell it is that you want. If you can't break up with her, then try harder to resist other girls' charms. And you wonder why Lilah made your life a living hell after that? I don't want to say that you deserved all the humiliation and chaos, but you really did. #SorryNotSorry
Jules, meanwhile, was another big UGH. She's supposedly this likeable, kind, cheerful girl who everybody in the school loves, but I just couldn't put myself to like her. First off, she knew Carter had a girlfriend. And yet, she did nothing to stop the dangerous route their relationship was taking. Heck, after they did the deed, she was so happy and ecstatic, she pretty much danced and skipped on her way back home. Fuck the consequences, she was just contented to have done it with him. I hated how she knew he had Lilah, but she encouraged cheating anyway.
And you know what was worse? When she confessed to her mother what she did ("Hey mom, I just had sex with a guy who has a girlfriend! Awesome, huh?"), the mother had the gall to tell her that if something bad happened, it wasn't her fault.
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Hold it -- WHAAAAAAAT?! Excuse me, dear mother, but if two people willingly committed infidelity, it's BOTH their fault. It takes two to dance the tango. Your daughter knew. Your daughter didn'thesitate. Your daughter was happy to have done it. So please, cut the bullshit.
At least Lilah had every reason to do what she did. Not saying she should have done them, because what she did were quite extreme and she could have handled it differently, but she had every right to be angry at both of them. She also wasn't likeable as she kept thinking Jules was the enemy and that Carter was a victim (um, no), and she had all these dangerous thoughts that made her an unreliable character.
From page one until the end, we don't really see anything apart from Lilah make her revenge. The book's really just one big WTFery, so I had hoped the epilogue at least would give us something to learn from aside from "don't be a fucking cheater" and "take your medication", but it was just another WTF. Let's just say the cycle continues and I was left scratching my head, thinking, "What the hell did I just read...?"
All in all, don't read this book if you hate pointless things, unlikeable characters, and trainwrecks waiting to happen. But if you're the type who likes to see such explode, be my guest and knock yourself out. I was kind of both, but in the end, if you ask me whether or not I'll read this again, I'll have to refuse. I'm not a sadist, thanks....more
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